Winter has arrived here in Maine. About a week ago, I awoke to a fresh blanket of pristine white fluffy snow and couldn’t wait to go on a walk with my husband and our dog, Winston.

As we walked, we saw tracks from deer, fox and a mouse in the snow. They were amazingly clear and fun to follow and notice the path they had chosen through the woods and across the golf course.

Keep in mind, we walked the same terrain the day before and observed nothing on the ground only beautiful birds in the sky. We didn’t see any prints in the dirt or the grass, now clearly a deer, a fox and a mouse did not move in overnight. They were there the day before we simply were not able to see signs of them as we were focused on watching the birds.

I came home and spent time being curious about how often I’ve overlooked what is around me because I’m focused on something else.

I know when I get so zoned in on my goals and planning for the future, it is easy to forget to BE present with all of the magic currently happening around me. When I bring my focus back to the moment, it allows me to soak in all of the tiny details and see things I didn’t notice currently happening before me. Ah yes, it provides me with a fresh perspective.

As I bring 2017 to a close, I’m committed to slowing down to BE more present each day, to be open to discovering the hidden treasures I’ve been missing while focusing on something else. Taking a moment to engage in meaningful conversation with someone I see every day, yet may have never really talked with him or her before.

I’d like to invite you to join me in this slow down to discovery countdown of 2017. If you are interested, here are a few questions to get you started:

What did you see that you’ve not seen before during your commute to work?

Who were you able to talk with at your work that you’ve not taken the opportunity to talk with in the past?

What did you learn about your friends and family that you’ve never noticed before?

Enjoy the process and the gift a fresh perspective may provide! I wish each of you a wonderful Holiday Season filled with love and joy!

I was recently chosen to contribute to an article: 11 Ways to Rectify A Hiring Mistake

Tip #10: Learn from the experience

Remember, there’s no shame when a job isn’t a good fit for someone. It doesn’t mean they’re faulty or broken. It simply means the two pieces of the puzzle don’t go smoothly together. Learn from the experience and ask yourself, “What can I do differently to create a better result next time?” – Kris McCrea, PCC, McCreaCoaching.com